Dear Prosenjit,

The blue green algae are not algae, but a form of bacteria that is an unusual green color. Also called cyanobacteria, blue green algae grow in both salt and fresh water, especially quiet lakes and ponds where they give the water a dark green color. Blue green algae, including a type called spirulina, contain valuable nutrients and could also provide additional health benefits. Algae are emerging to be one of the most promising long-term, sustainable sources of biomass and oils for fuel, food, feed, and other co-products. What makes them so attractive are the large number and wide variety of benefits associated with how and where they grow.

Here are 10 reasons why algae are a promising new source of fuel and other products:

1. Algae Grow Fast

2. Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields

3. Algae Consume CO2

4. Algae Do Not Compete With Agriculture

5. Microalgal Biomass Can Be Used for Fuel, Feed and Food

6. Macroalgae Can Be Grown in the Sea

7. Algae Can Purify Wastewaters

8. Algal Biomass Can Be Used as an Energy Source

9. Algae Can Be Used to Produce Many Useful Products

10. The Algae Industry is a Job Creation Engine.

There are many reasons why this “Plant of the Sea” has been used in Asian cuisine since prehistoric times. Seaweed is one of the healthiest foods on the planet; it is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. If you can believe it, there are over 10,000 different types of seaweeds on our planet….wow are waters are packed with wonderful, vegan healthy weeds!!!! Even though there are thousands of seaweeds, not all are edible. The most edible form of seaweed is algae, yep that stuff you thought only fish eat! The most popular kinds of algae are red, brown, green and blue-green. Most of the highly nutritious sea vegetables we consume are made from one of these kinds of algae. Red algae have been used for thousands of years as a source of food and for treating medical conditions. It is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are easily utilized by your body.

Health Benefits of Blue Green Algae

1. Natural Compounds in Organic Blue-Green Algae.

2. Antioxidant Activity of Blue-Green Algae

3. Blue-Green Algae and B12

4. Blue-Green Algae and Stem Cells

5. Potential Concerns about Blue Green Algae

6. Nutritional Benefits

7. Health Benefits

Regards,

Prem Baboo

The vast majority of seaweed is collected for human consumption and for hydrocolloid production. Seaweed exploitation in Europe is currently restricted to manual and mechanised harvesting of natural stocks. The majority of Asian seaweed resources are cultivated. The traditional markets for seaweed products sustain a much higher price for raw material than that likely for biofuel production.

http://www.seai.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications_/Bioenergy/Algaereport.pdf

There are many algae that are cultivated for their nutritional value, either for supplemental use, or as a food source.

Possible Applications:

• Macroalgae as food source (Nori or purple laver, Aonori or green laver , Kombu or haidai,Wakame, quandai-cai, Hiziki , Mozuku, Sea grapes or green caviar, Dulse, Irish moss or carrageenan moss, Winged kelp, Ogo, ogonori or sea moss)
• Puddings, Sauces and Creams, Beverage/Juice, Sweet biscuits, Chocolates, Dark colored baked products, Edible coatings, Food colouring agents, Cheeses and butter or margarines, Food gels, Stabilizer/emulsifier, Food Packaging, Gelling and Thickening Agents

http://www.oilgae.com/non_fuel_products/non_fuel_products_from_algae.html

Algae can be used to make Biodiesel (see algaculture), Bioethanol and biobutanol and by some estimates can produce vastly superior amounts of vegetable oil, compared to terrestrial crops grown for the same purpose.

Algae can be grown to produce hydrogen. In 1939 a German researcher named Hans Gaffron, while working at the University of Chicago, observed that the algae he was studying,Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (a green-algae), would sometimes switch from the production of oxygen to the production of hydrogen.

Algae can be grown to produce biomass, which can be burned to produce heat and electricity. 

Food supplement:

1. It is a complete protein with essential amino acids (unlike most plant foods) that are involved in major metabolic processes such as energy and enzyme production.

2. It contains high amounts of simple and complex carbohydrates which provide the body with a source of additional fuel. In particular, the sulfated complex carbohydrates are thought to enhance the immune system’s regulatory response.

3. It contains an extensive fatty acid profile, including Omega 3 and Omega 6. These essential fatty acids also play a key role in the production of energy.

4. It has an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in naturally-occurring synergistic design.

Stabilizing agent

Chondrus crispus, (probably confused with Mastocarpus stellatus, common name: Irish moss), is also used as "carrageen". It is an excellent stabiliser in milk products - it reacts with the milk protein caesin, other products include: petfoods, toothpaste, ice-creams and lotions etc.,Alginates in creams and lotions are absorbable through the skin.

Fertilizer

Algae are used by humans in many ways. They are used as fertilizers, soil conditioners and are a source of livestock feed. Because many species are aquatic and microscopic, they are cultured in clear tanks or ponds and either harvested or used to treat effluents pumped through the ponds

Role Of Algae in Pollution control

Algae are used in Wastewater Treatment facilities, reducing the need for greater amounts of toxic chemicals than are already used.

Algae can be used to capture fertilizers in runoff from farms. When subsequently harvested, the enriched algae itself can be used as fertilizer.

Algae Bioreactors are used by some power plants to reduce CO2 emissions. The CO2 can be pumped into a pond, or some kind of tank, on which the algae feed. Alternatively, the Bioreactor can be installed directly on top of a smokestack.

 http://www.oilgae.com/algae/use/use.html

Sargassum is a type of seaweed or brown algae (macro-algae) which generally inhabit in shallow water and coral reefs.

• This algae can be used to make paper, tissue paper or paper bags, as it usually consists of cellulose and hemi-cellulose which are raw materials of paper (preventing cutting of trees to make paper or prevent use of plastic bags).
• Can use dry algae biomass to burn as fuel, replace coal with dry algae as it will release less carbon dioxide.
• Can be used to make cosmetics, makeup, pharmaceutical products, sunscreen, anti-aging cream and for hair strengthening treatments. Sargassum is rich in iodine, bromine, mineral salts and vitamins and also have the ability to absorb fats.
• Seaweed can be used to treat joint pains and skin diseases (burns), as they have high antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-fungal properties.
• Seaweed is also used in food and beverage industry, normally used in cocktail drinks.
• Farmers can use seaweed as fertilisers. they should collect the algae from the coastal zone which will indeed benefit the ocean as it allows a better survival rate of marine organisms. The farmers should let it dry in the sun for two to three days, wash and store for later use.
• Sargassum seaweed is a nutritious food rich in carotenoids, cellulose, protein, and aspartic and glutamic acids. Sargassum seaweed contains polysaccharies, which support healthy bloody pressure and blood sugar.